A record 8.3 million fines were issued to motorists in London last year, generating substantial income for local councils.

In the 2023/24 financial year, a total of 8,333,486 penalty charge notices (PCNs) were handed out by the capital’s 33 boroughs and Transport for London (TfL). This marked an increase of almost 10 percent compared to the 7.6 million fines issued in 2022/23.

More than half of the fines issued were parking tickets, amounting to 4,560,690 in total. Depending on the location, the cost of these tickets ranged from £60 to £130. The number of parking tickets rose by 11.2 percent, with 460,000 more tickets issued compared to the previous year. This surge is likely attributed to the expansion of residents’ parking zones.

TfL issued the highest number of parking tickets, totaling 463,651, followed by Westminster with 407,284 and Newham with 281,037.

There was also an 8.5 percent increase in fines for “moving traffic offences.” These include violations such as stopping in “yellow box junction” areas, making banned turns, and breaking restrictions in low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) or school streets, which limit access to non-residents.

Moving traffic offences are typically enforced using CCTV, with fines often arriving by post weeks after the infraction.

While the total income generated from these fines by TfL and the 33 London councils has not been disclosed, it is estimated to exceed £400 million. Photo by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz, Wikimedia commons.